Westshore Rebels back Niles Goguen is tackled by V.I. Raiders opponent Ranji Atwall during Saturday’s B.C. Junior Football League playoff game at Nanaimo’s Caledonia Park. The Rebels were eliminated from the B.C. semifinal in a 49-17 loss. Goguen rushed for 42 yards on eight carries and caught four passes for another 82 yards.

Rebels suffer season-ending playoff loss

The Westshore Rebels’ B.C. junior football league season ended on Saturday with a 49-17 loss to the Vancouver Island Raiders in Nanaimo.

Rebels lineman Jack Allen said it was a tough loss, despite being the heavy underdog to the undefeated Raiders.

“When you put all this time into it, the last 12 weeks of training and effort and everything (came) down to this moment and when it ends, it’s tough. We dug pretty deep. It was a battle. We were fighting.”

The Raiders will play the Langley Rams in the B.C. final on Oct. 22 as the third-place Rams upset the second-place Sun 31-19 in the other semifinal on Sunday.

Rebels receiver Vinnie Cannata caught three passes for 160 yards, including a 75 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cat Todorowich in the first quarter.

Todorowich scored the Rebels’ second touchdown on a keeper play in the third quarter. In total, Todorowich completed 13 of 32 passes for 311 yards with two interceptions.

The Raiders’ defence held talented Rebels running back Greg Morris to just 35 yards on seven carries.

– With files from Greg Sakaki/Nanaimo News Bulletin

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